Hot cross bun Totally Explained

Everything about Hot Cross Bun totally explained

A hot cross bun, or cross-bun, is a type of sweet spiced bun made with currants or raisins and leavened with yeast. It has a cross marked on the top which might be effected in one of a variety of ways including: pastry, flour and water mixture, rice paper, icing, or intersecting cuts.

History

In many historically Christian countries, buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, with the cross standing as a symbol of the crucifixion. They are believed by some to pre-date Christianity, although the first recorded use of the term "hot cross bun" isn't until 1733; it's claimed (no source found) that buns marked with a cross were eaten by Saxons in honor of the goddess Eostre (the cross is thought to have symbolized the four quarters of the moon); 'Eostre' is probably the origin of the name 'Easter'. Others claim that the Greeks marked cakes with a cross, much earlier. Cakes were certainly baked in honour of deities since very ancient times, although it isn't known if they were marked.
According to cookery writer Elizabeth David, Protestant English monarchs saw the buns as a dangerous hold-over of Catholic belief in England, being baked from the dough used in making the communion wafer. Protestant England attempted to ban the sale of the buns by bakers but they were too popular, and instead Elizabeth I passed a law permitting bakeries to sell them, but only at Easter and Christmas.

Other versions

In both Australia and New Zealand recently a chocolate version of the bun has become popular. They generally contain the same mixture of spices but chocolate chips are used instead of currants. This is due to the close association between Easter and chocolate, or simply to a love of chocolate in general. In the Czech Republic, mazanec is a similar cake or sweet bread eaten at Easter time. It often has a cross marked on top.
In the Maldives, cream jehi banas or cream buns in English is a favorite to the locals. It is fairly similar to hot cross buns.

News stories

Around Easter 2003, the Daily Telegraph among other newspapers, reported that several local authorities in England (in particular Tower Hamlets Borough Council) had banned schools serving hot cross buns on the grounds of political correctness, believing the symbol of the cross could be offensive to non-Christians. This step was widely condemned, most vocally by Ann Widdecombe. As one of the cited councils, the City of York issued a statement making clear that although the buns were not being served in their schools this year, there was "no particular reason" for this, and it wasn't based on any policy decision.

Music

'Hot Cross Buns' is also the name of a children's song based on the hawking of bakers selling their products.
   There are two versions of the tune. The simple version is played with the sequence A, G,F whilst the original more musical version uses the notes A, A,D, where the second A is one octave lower than the first.
   (The "ha'" is pronounced "hay", and refers to a half penny coin no longer in circulation.) ť Hot cross buns,

   Hot cross buns, ť one ha' penny,

   two ha' penny, ť hot cross buns.

ť If you've no daughters,

   give them to your sons, ť one ha' penny,

   two ha' penny, ť Hot Cross Buns

Alternative lyrics are: ť Hot cross buns,

   One a penny buns, ť One a penny,

   Two a penny, ť Hot cross buns.

ť Fresh, sweet buns,

   Come and buy my buns, ť One a penny,

   Two a penny, ť Fresh, sweet buns.

ť Nice, light buns,

   Buy my currant buns, ť Come and try them,

   Then you'll buy them, ť Nice, light buns.

ť Hot, sweet buns,

   Good for everyone, ť All your daughters,

   All your sons, ť All love buns.

ť Hot cross buns,

   Hot cross buns, ť Everybody loves hot cross buns.

Further alternative lyrics are:
ť Hot cross buns,

   Hot cross buns, ť One a penny,

   Two a penny, ť Hot cross buns.

ť If you've no daughters,

   If you've no daughters, ť If you've no daughters,

   Give them to your sons, ť But if you've none of these little elves,

   Then you must eat them all yourselves.Further Information

Get more info on 'Hot Cross Bun'.

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